Written by Lois Shuart, “The 7th Duckling Learns to Fly” is a children’s story about a growing 7th duckling living on a farm with an elderly couple. While she is healthy and swims well, she lacks flight skills and resorts to clumsy “belly floppers” off the dock.

Determined to teach her how to fly, the old lady devises a plan to move the duckling’s food bowl progressively higher up a nearby hill. After a few days of this routine, an accidental tumble by the old lady startles the duckling, prompting her to flap her wings and briefly leave the ground. Inspired by this reaction, the old lady begins intentionally waving her arms after feeding time to encourage practice.

Over the course of the week, the duckling successfully learns to race down the hill, fly short steps, and glide smoothly onto the pond. As winter approaches and other ducks migrate south, the story concludes with the old lady realizing that the duckling must now learn her next vital milestone: How to Quack!